Trolley retriever or safety device.



M. A. YEAKLEY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER 0R SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7; 1907;

Patented June 22, 1915.

Mg. I 550 i ill-Iii ii V Mmrm/Hrl %@Wqv DY ZM wvilmw) .Ahwim I M. A. YEAKLEY. 'TROLLEY RETRIEVER 0R SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 7. I907.

Patented June 22, 1915.

I SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' 'lmmw A. YEAKLEY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER 0R SAFETY.DEV|CE. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7. 1907.

Patented June 22, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3. w W

M. A. YEAIKLEY. TROLLEY RETRIEVER 0R SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION man on. 1. 1901.

Patented June 22, 1915.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4- Air-TEST 6.914710% M. A. YEAKLEY.

,TROLLEY RETRIEVER 0R SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7

Patented June 22, 1915.

E E I e M. A. YEAKLEY- 'TROLLEY RETRIEVER on SAFETY DEVICE. APPLFCATION F|LED 0CT-1y 19 07- L143,74 Patented June 22, 1915.

1 SHEETSSHEET 6.

I I; I

M. A. YEAKLEY.

TROLLEY RETRIEVER 0R SAFETY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 7. 1907.

Patented June 22, 1915.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

Arms? [m'vmrmfi 5/24 Memrmmmwmr m MELVIN ALBERT YEAKLEY, 0F

KAMMS, 01110,. assrenon T0 Joan E. McLAIN, or

can'ron, OHIO.

' TROLLEY BETBIEVER 0R SAFETY DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patenteflfl' n 22, 1915..

Application filed October. 7, 1907. Serial No. 396,243.

To all m]: am (it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN ALBERT YEnKLEY, a citizen of the United States, re slding at Kamms, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Trolley Retrievers or Safety Devices, and do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

-My invention relates to trolley retrievers or safety devices of the class adapted to be operated by the trolley rope when in use on the car, and the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, substantially as shown and described and'particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a partial vertical sectional elevation of the retriever. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the retriever looking in from the left of Fig. 1, the casing being partially broken away -to disclose working parts within. Fig. 3 "is a full vertical sectional elevation on the axis of rotation with the parts as in Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are cross sections, respectively, on lines 44, 5--5, and 66, of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a cross section partly on lines 44 and 55, respectively;-of Fig. 3, showing parts in positions as when the power spring is wound to the limit as fixed by pawl 44 at the right, and before release of thedouble catch pawl 24 occurs before relaxing-pull on cord, as willappear more fully in the general description. Fig. 8 is a cross section corresponding substantially to line 6-6, of Fig. 3, showing the power spring contracted and the pawls in relation as in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional detail of the parts shown in back ground, Fig. 7, and in the same relative positions and more especially showingthe device for setting pawl spring 28. Fig. 10 is a simi-' lar view to Fig. 9 but showing position of parts in next forward step of operation and the main pawl in engagement with the rive ratchet. Fig. 11 is a similar view to Figs. 9 and 10 with parts in still further advanced position and with direct driving pawl. or dog 54 engaged but about to be released. Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 7, but show ing the operating parts in' normal working position whenthe retriever is free to play in rin either direction under the control of the trolley. Fig. 13 is a reduced view of a car and trolley and enlarged view of the retrlever in retrieving position, the dotted lines showing the different positions sustained by the trolley before being retrieved. Sheet '7 shows a number of perspective views 1n which Fig. 14 is the reel; Fig. 15

the reel-pawl; Fig. l6'thedrum-pawl; Fig.

17 the limiting-pawl; Fig. 18 the ratchetring; Fig. 19 the driver, partly sectioned; Fig. 20 the accommodating member; Fig. 21 the locking-member, and Fig. 22 a group of the double catch awl and two difierent springs, all as hereinafter fully described in their respective working relations.

The object of the invention isto provide a retriever of such simple constructions and self controlling capabilities that an unskilled operator who may not know more than the object of the device can use the retriever properly without risk of damaging the same or of eopardiZing the trolley. 'lncident to this obgect'and to simplify construction, I have eliminated the usual light tension spring found generally in retrievers, and have built this retriever with'but'a single spring adapted to turn the. drum and to perform all the services ofa plurality of as one member upon the dash-board or other available part of the car and in this instance through section 2. The main shaft. 5 of the retriever has end bearings in said sections, and working parts mounted thereon comprise a, drive arm 8 which is fixed to said shaft just inside section 1 of the casing and" revolves therewith. A one piece member, comprising a pinion 1 0-and a gear 11, Fig. 1, is mounted on stud 9 upon the end and side of said arm, and these parts are adapted to mesh by the pinion 10 with a 12 of gear teeth on the inside of the casing, and by the gear 11 with a pinion 13 on the hub of a winding drum 14. It f0llows when shaft 5 is revolved and fixed arm 8 revolves with it that the power is transi'mtted to drum 14 by gear-'11 and pinion 13 n andthe drum is rotated accordingly and in '5; the same direction. By this proportional and relative arrangement of gears a single re volut1on ofshaft 5 will produce sixteen 1eVOll1tlOI1S of the drum, or vice versa, sixteen revolutions of the drum will rotate in. shaft 5 but once. Or, in other words, the drum for the trolley rope or cord is geared sixteen to one of actuating shaft ,5 in order that the winding power of the spring for the drum be lessened in such degree that it 15 will not interfere with the normal Working of the trolleyand provide only such rotation of the drum'as will keep the slack of the trolley cord wound upon the drum. When the trolley jumps the wire, the drum 14 is flll' automatically thrown into direct working Wj'relationship with the power spring instead of indirectly'jas before through the back gearing above referred to, and retrieving takes placeunder theso-called high tension 2-5 positio'n hereinafter frequently referred to, and as willbe seen further along. High tension, therefore as understood herein, proceeds from a single power spring which is surrendering its tension through direct connection with the winding drum to-produce high tension effects in winding up the trolley cord as against the counter pull or pressure of the trolley spring on the car, and low tension proceeds from the same spring through back gearing to the drum to produce low tension effects in winding up the slack of the trolley cord and in playing freely to the counter-pull of the trolley V spring. Q The drum 14 preferably occupies a position centrally in or between the casing sections 1 and-2 and has side flanges 6 prefer. ably running substantially flush with the inner edges 7 of said casing sections, thereby 5 affording the necessary operating room for trolley rope or cord 59, as clearly appears. Now, referring to the parts within the easing section 2, indicates an accommodaw tor having a sleeve loosely mounted on the shaft'5. 16- indicates a, driveror driving member having a hub sleeved over and rotatably mounted upon the sleeve or hub of the accommodating member. 17 is a power spring which is attached or fixed at its inner 55 end to the hub of said driver and at its outer end to the casing section 2 by a hook 18 or equivalent means. The drum 14 is rotated by the spring 17 in an anti-clockwise direction to wind up thecord 59 thereon. When thecord is unwound from the drum, the latterrotates in a clockwise direction and oper-- member, leaving the said parts and shaft 5 rotatably independent of each other notwithstanding their support one upon the other, except as intermediate connections affect their relations.

The accommodating member 15 is preferably of substantially crank shape, Fig. 20,.

and has a fiat faced arm 32 provided with a lateral stud at its outer end and a lug 36 at about its middle for purposes presently to be described, and said member 15 has a rotation of about a half revolution on driver 16, being limited in one direction by ing or projection 21 and in the other by lug 23, Figs. 9 and 10, on the inside of driver 16 and lying respectively in the path of arm 32 of said member 15 as it turns to one side or the other.

-Viewed from another-point, driver 16 can make only a half revolution without striking one or the-other lug 21 or 23 against said member 15 and thus carrying it along, as occurs when the parts are operated'to reestablish working conditions after retrieving of the trolley. This readjustment finally brings said parts to normal working relation, when the trolley is restored to the wire and I get what I term the low tension pos tion or relation of'parts. In this latter position ppwer spring 17 is as a matter of fact wound to approximately as high a tension as in the first instance, or about as in F ig. 8, but drum 14 is under low tension through intervening parts comprising gears 10, 11, 12 and -13.at the left of Fig. 1, and thence through shaft 5 and other parts to spring 17, as clearly appears hereinafter in the description of operation. The position of the parts, when the drum 14 is in low tension relation and the power spring is rotating the drum to take up the slack in the trolley rope, is illustrated in Fig. 12.

Now referring to the parts which look driver 16 and shaft 5 together, I employ a double catch pawl 24 having a catch at its end and catch 42 on its back, and said pawl is rotatably mounted on stud 25 of member15 and held in place thereon by a cotter pin or other equivalent means. 29 is a ratchet wheel rigidly fixed to shaft 5. 26 indicates a spring carried by the accommodator 15 and preferably coiled around the stud 25 thereof. One end of the spring engages with an abutment or other station ary device 26, while its opposite end engages with and operates pawl 24 to move the catch 35 thereon into engagement with the ratchet wheel 29. 20 indicates a hub extension on accommodating member 15." 19 indicates a locking member rotatably mounted on the hub 20.and provided with a pair of arms 37, 37, preferably extending in diametrically opposite directions. The looking member may be held in place laterally by ratchet wheel 29 on. the shaft 5. 19

of the locking member 19. The spring 28 is preferably of the coiled type and interposedbetween the pawl 24 and locking member 19, whereby it is adapted to be placed under tension by the movement of' said member to one position (see Fig. 11) and tobe released or freed from tension when said mem'berds shifted to another position (see Fig. 9). \Vhen the spring 28 is locked or compressed it tends to throw 'the pawl 24 outwardly and being stronger than spring 26, it will operate .the pawl24 modator and driver occurs.

when differential rotation of the accom- 38 indicates a ratchet ring rotatably' mounted upon or about inner annular-portion 27 of the driver, It is provided with inner ratchet teeth 40 which register with a slot 41 in the driver, sothat acatch 42 on pawl 24 may engage said teeth 40 through said slot. The said slot 41 extends around the said driver far enough to allow catch 42 to travel in it one-half revolution in this instance. 43 indicates a series of teeth provided on the outer periphery of the -ratchet ring 38. These teeth preferably have square shoulders and are arranged near one, edge of the ring 38. The teeth 43 are adapted to be engaged by pawls 44 and 45, respectively, to limit and stop said ring inits rotation in either direction and therebyefl'ect either locking'or release of hook 42 and pawl 24 as will be later described.

The limiting pawls '44 and 45 are pivotally mounted on studs'within the main casing and secured thereon by cotter pinsor otherwise, and theyfengage opposite shoulders of teeth or projections 43, according to location. Thus, pawl 45 serves to hold ring 38 stationary, Fig. 5, to release the hook 42 of the pawl 24 and allow spring 26 (when spring 28'is open) or freed from tension to throw said pawl 24 inward,

to engage ratchet wheel 29, Fig. 10. When such engagement occurs a difi'erentlal rotation between accommodating member 15 and llriver 16 is established, the drum however,

remaining under high tension for a brief interval or until a one-half revolution of said driver carries lug 23 against member 15 and the parts are connected in low tension relation. ,Fig. 11 illustrates the posir I long as the" tro tension, than the driver 16, it will be understood that as soon as any retrieving of the rope 59 occurs, the pawl 54 will disengage the adjacent tooth 60 of the driver and be moved inwardly into the position shown in Fig. 12.

Now returning to limiting pawl 44, it will be seen that the same has'a bottom proection at its free end which rides on power spring hook part 18 as the power spring distends or opens in action, and whereby said pawl is carried out of engagement with free ring 38. That is, when the power spring is spread or expanded,as in Fig. 6, it will lift said pawl as shown therein and the maximum of such expansion is controlled by projections 46 on the inside of the casing. This expansion and its corresponding effect on the reel is adapted to be further limited or restricted by adjusting screws 47 through the shell of the casing. When spring 17 .is again contracted pawl 44 drops by gravity back to engaging relation with ring 38 or said pawl 44 may be operated by spring pressure.

Briefly, such engagement is designed to cause positive locking of hook 42 of catch 24 with the inder cut shoulders of ratchet teeth 40 during opening or unlockingoperations of spring 28.

Direct engagement is made between the driver 16 and the reel 14 when the trolley jumps the wire by pawl 54, Fig. 7, pivotally secured on a stud on a reel 14. 57 indicates a relatively light spring, preferably coiled around the stud '55, havingone'arm engaging a stationary stop or lug 57 on the drum 14 and its other arm operatively engaging the pawl 54. This spring operates to maintain the pawl 54 normally in retracted position. When the drum 14'is revolved in the rope unwinding or clockwise direction' suddenly, the centrifugal force set up throws the pawl 54 outwardly against the tension of the spring 57 and into engagement with a tooth 60 'on the driver 16 61 indicates a drum locking pawl pivotally mounted on the .web of drum 14. 64 indicates 'a spring coiled arbund the pivot of the pawl 61." One end of the spring preferably engages the sto 57 while its opposite end engages avit and tends to normally 'move thepawl 61 outwardly, thereby tending to throw the pawl into engagement with ratchet teeth 60 on the inside of the driver" and lock the drum as this occurs. HOWGWBI, this pawl 61 is held inactive as ley cord is attached to the drum, and to this end saidtrolley ropev or cord 59 is provided with a knot 69 engaged detachably .iI'l .drum 14 through a hole or opening 67 and a slot 68 formed in the drum 14. .The slot 68 preferably extends in a circumferential direction or in such direction as to fasten the knot 69 by a pull on the rope 59 after its knotted or enlarged end has been inserted through the opening 67.

66 indicates a flange or plate carried by the free end of the pawl 61 and extending laterally therefrom so as to lie over said opening '67 and slot 68 or in the path of the knot 69 as it is inserted through the opening 67. Movement oftthedrum in the rope unwinding direction asutiicient distance will reilealse said app e or cord through the knot e. locking pawl- 61' automatically springs into engagementwith the teeth 60. Since the drum 14, being in low tension connection with the power spring, rotates faster than the driver 16, it will be understood that the locking pawl 61, which is car ied by the drum 14, when in engagemen teeth 60, will prevent relative movement between the drum and driver. Such connection between these parts will therefore result in locking them together and prevent the spring from unwinding. 75 indicates a series of ratchet teeth formed on the inner peripheryv of the main casing. 70 indicates a pawl pivoted on the outer or free edge of the driver and arranged to be thrown outwardly by centrifugal force into engagement with one of the teeth 75. 73 indicates a spring coiled around the pivot of the pawl 70, one end thereof engaging a stationary member 7 0 and its oppositeend engaging: with and operating the pawl 70 inwardly in engagement with a stop 74. The purpose of the pawl 70 is to check undue upward movement of the trolley when the latter leaves the trolley wire. :It is thrown outward into engagement with teeth 75 by centri'fugal force due to the rotation imparted to the driver from the drum in rope unwinding. direction through the back gearing, and through thepawl 54 after the change from low tension to high tension has been effected. However, as the change to ti/high tension is made'by'meansof the sudden upward pull on the; drum in the rope unwinding ,di rection, the pawl 70 is prevented from engagement with the teeth 75 until this change has beenmade. The control of'the pawl 70 is preferably effected by the spring 73 which is of suflicient strength to prevent the operation of the pawl until the high thrown in. i

Preliminary to a detailed description of operation, it should be understood that Figs. 1 to 6 show'the parts in relaxed orunwound relations, as they appear after assembling and before they are brought to operating or'low tension positiomand at this stage, lock spring 28 is lockedor compressed to hold double catch '24 outward against the inward pressing spring 26. Now, referring to said views and describingthe winding operation, the first step is 'to attach the Whe'n'such release occurs the drum with themodating member 15 and lug tension connections have been trolley cord to the drum by slipping its knot 69 into slot 68, thereby disengaging pawl 61 drive connections to the spring are directly through driver 16 and winding of the spring proceeds rapidly and by pull of hand upon trolley cord 59 until the parts reach the position shown in F ig. 7. By reason of the contact of the lug 21 with the arm 32 of accommodator 15, it will be understood that the latter rotates with the driver in the rope unwinding direction, and that through the engagementv of catch 42 with tooth 40 of the ring 38 the latter also rotates with the driver. In'Fig. the pawl 44 has locked free ring 38 against further movement by contact with tooth 43' and this is brought about by the contraction of the power spring allowing said pawl to drop by gravity (or by spring pressure if a spring is used) as its projection 50 'rides downward or radially inward with the spring. Projecting catc 42 of double catch 24 being interlocked with free ring 38 at this time, arm 32 of accom- 21 of driver 16 being in abutting relation and the centrifugal acting drum pawl 54 being also engaged at this time 'with teeth of driver 16, all of said parts serve to provide a positive limit to the winding of the power spring- 'efi'ectof this operation is to free the spring 28 from tension.

To efi'ect release of catch 24from ring 38 and to place the drum into the back geared or indirect driving relation with the power spring, the pull on cord 59 is relaxed and surrendered tothe pull of the power spring for about one-half revolution of the drum and driver in the rope, winding direction.

In so doing, free ring 38 is. carried along with the driver, owing to the friction betweenthem, for a short distance or until pawl 45engages the opposed shoulder of a tooth 43 thereon and stops the said ring, which releases hook 42 ofcatch 24 and almagma shaft is thereby checked, but the driver continues to rotate in the rope winding di-' rection until shoulder 23 thereon engages arm 32 of said accommodating member, this movement being limited to ahalf revolution as stated. Should there be no friction between members and 16, while the spring 28 is being locked or compressed, arm 32 would be moved a trifle by the spring 28' and engage lug 23. This travel however is too short to allow catch 24: to leave the teeth in ratchet 29, due to the shape and location of hook 35 on the teeth of ratchet 29. This has been tested without friction between members in this ratchet, but with the friction between said members the catch 24 will remain in close contact with teeth in ratchet 29 while the spring 28 is being locked. Lug 23 does not necessarily leave arm 32 when catch 24 is relieved from the teeth in ratchet 29. Instead, they both move to the right when catch 24 releases from ratchet 29. However, before this movement is completed buffer arm 37 of locking member 19 is; engaged by stud 33 onthe driver and said member rotated on its bearing to close or compress lock spring 28, thereby setting the same to throw catch 24 outward whenever release is effected between its catch 35 and the 'teeth on ratchet wheel 29. a It is to 'be noted that the hooked shape. and location of the, catch35 and teeth iii-ratchet 29, together with the friction between members 15 and 16 holds catch in contact with ratchet 29 as against being forced outward while the lock spring 28 is being locked. The position of the parts at the end of the half revolution described is shown in Fig. 11 wherein lug 23 has reached and engaged arm 32 and. is about to change conditions from high to low tension. Then, from this point on-a further surrender of the trolley cord and winding thereof on the drum-proceeds as before but the drive connections are now through the gears and shaft, or in other words in low ten'sion'relationship with the power spring and with the parts in position as shown 1n Fig. 12, pawl 54 having released itself in its further travel from teeth of direct drive on member 16. lhe device is now properly set and the spring wound and operatively connected with the drum tov rotate it in one direction to take up all slack in the trolley rope by the power spring, the drum being free to rotate, however, in the opposite direction against the tension of the power spring to pay out the rope by the counter acting pull of the trolley springs, the latter predominating because of the fixed low tension orback geared relation of the retriever parts. A prelin'nnary winding of the spring 28 having been once accomplished there is no further need of re -winding in all the details as recited and it" is in this connection that pawl 61 serves its most useful purpose. Thus, if cord 59 should become detached by accident or otherwise, said pawl will lock the drum and the driver together and prevent unwinding of -the power spring, and therefore, such steps as were originally taken to wind up said spring need not be repeated. WVhen the drum isin low tension connection, the power of spring 17 is. communicatedv thereto through the driver 16, lug 23, arm 32, pawl 24, catch 35, ratchet '29, and thence through the back gearing, the tension of the spring operating through these parts to prevent the release of the catchr35 from the ratchet 29.

Now, coining to the operation of retrieving and assuming that trolley wheel 81 has jumped off of the line'wire 79 and is thrown upward as usual under the pressure of its own spring 80 on pole 82, the sudden jerk upon the trolley cord thus produced will be communicated to the drum'l t and result in instantly throwing the pawl 54 thereon outfward against its own light spring into engagement with teeth 60 'on'the driver. The

sudden jerk imparted tothe drum will thus be communicated through pawl 54 to the driver and also cause sufficient movement of the driver relative to the arm 32 in the rope unwinding direction to release the tension of said pawl into engaging relationsswith the free ring 38 (see Fig. 13). In this sudden impulse upon trolley drum 14:, driver 16 and spring 17 also are involved through pawl 54 after the latter has engaged teeth 60. and turn together, firstin the rope unwinding direction until the upward movement of the trolley is checked by the pawl and then in the rope winding direction to effect the retrieving of the trolley. It-will be understood that power spring 17 when directly connected with the drum is more powerful than trolley spring 80 at the outset of this retrieving movement, but that as the trolley is lowered said springs pflset one another until an equilibrium is reached.

Assuming now that the trolley is in reupon thevdrum by the pull of its power spring, and before placing the trolley on' the wire. [The reverse revolution of the drum in winding up the cord starts under high tens-ion conditions and shifts to low tension.

conditions during the first half revolution thereof, and. asalready described in the primary windi'n'g operations of the device.

will be noted in'this View that pawl 44 is in locking engagement with free ring 38 and" no catch part 42 of double catch 24 is holding catch out "of engagement with ratcht'29 and that pawl 54 is engaged with driver 16. Thus, rotation of drum 14 proceeds anticlockwise direct through the driver from 'power spring 17 during the first half revolutio'n when pull on cord 59 is surrendered, [it being understood that the ring 38 rotates with the driver in this operation because of friction between them. At the be inning-of this movement, however, catch 24 1s released '-I;-from .ring 38 by pawl stopping said ring Twhile accommodating member 15 and double jcatch 24 continue to move with the driver duerto' friction between the accommodator and driver thereby permitting light spring 1 26' to throw. said catch into locking relation with ratchet29, and as seen in'Fig. 10: As the driver and drum continue to rotate under'the influence of the power spring17, to

3.2 the lug'33 moves around into contact wi the arm 37 of lock member 19 and rotates or shifts it from the position shown in Fi 10 to that shown in Fig. 11', such operatiii ii taking place prior to the engagements of the lug 23 with the arm 32. The shifting of the lock member 19 operates to set or lock the spring 28 ready to throw the pawl 24 when the trolley again leaves the wire. As already described, the pawl 54'is still in engagement, with the teeth 60, but soon as any retrieving of the rone takes ace, it will free itself therefrom. The step I from high tension'conditions to low tension 55 is immediate and complete and occurs between two moving parts rotating in the same direction'but having differential rotation as imparted by the back gearing through the shaft to the drum. When power spring 17 is wound up to place the device in working condition, it is never wound to its full limit, the. pawl 44 operating through the ring 38.-- and. catch 42- to provide a limit to brigig the lug 23 in engagement with thearm tension. This limit although fixed is but visited )to' more clearly understand the .which thecoils maybe wound to high maas'm tion bythe back gearing. provided, and in consequence prevents unwinding of the power spring and the placing of the device out of commission. The object in so guarding the spring in the first instance is to prevent breakage by undue winding thereof when winding to the high tension limit of the device for operation, and secondly, to keep the power spring in connected wind- /ing relation with the driving parts so that the operator of acar may always remove the rope quickly and conveniently and as quickly restore the same to its fastening place with the drum, 'and have the power spring respond at once to wind the trolley L cord thereon.

Any suitable connecting means between the trellegn and the winding drum may be used in place ofthe trolley cord shown and described.

To those skilled in the art of making apparatus of the class described, many alterations in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of my invention will suggest themselves, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My f disclosures and the description herein are pnrelyillustrative, and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. In a trolley safety device, the combination of a rope winding drum, to which a trolley rope is connected, a power sprin connected thereto for operating it, and means for locking said drum against rotation, the said means being controlled by the connection to and disconnection from said drum of the trolley -rope.

2. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a winding drum to which one end of a trolley rope is detachably connected, a power spring connected to the drum for rotating it, and automatically operating means for locking the drum against rotation when the rope end is detached from the drum, the act of attaching and detaching the rope end operating to control said locking means.

3. A" trolley safety device having a winding drnm a cord having a knot in its end removably"engaged in said drum, a locking pawl for said drum, and a ratchet adapted to be engaged thereby, said pawl being constructed to bear on the knot in said cord and to be held out of engagement with said ratchet while the knot remains engaged in the drum.

"with and disengagement from said drum of the trolley-cord, in combination with a lookng pawl, said pawl being pivoted on the drum and having a wing adapted to rest on said trolley cord and keep the pawl out of locking position.

5. A trolley safety device comprising a rope drum having a rope slot, driving mechforisaid drum, and means for locking said driving mechanism arranged to be held inactive by the end of the trolley rope inserted in said rope slot.

t. In trolley retrievers, a trolley cord drum, a shaft on. which the drum 'is'loosely mounted, gear connections between" said drum and shaft andadapted to speed the rotation of the drum in respect to the shaft, and power means operatively engaging the shaft.

- Z, In trolley retrievers, a casing, a shaft, aspring connected'therewith, a drum loose on said shaft, and gearing to rotate the drum having operative engagement with said casingand said shaft.

8. 1m a trolley retriever, a casing having 3 an. internal gearfashaft, a power spring operatively connected therewith, an arm fixed on said shaft, a pinion thereon engaging said gear, and a trolley cord drum.

looselymounted in-said casing and geared to" said pinion.

9. In a trolley retriever, a casing having an internal gear, a-power shaft mounted in the casing, a trolley cord .drum free on said shaft, and power connections between the shaft and drum and operatively engaging said gear.

x10. Ina trolley retriever, a casing, a power ,shafttherein, a trolley cord drum free on said shaft, driving connections between said .drum and shaft, and a gear on the inside of said? casing "engaged by a pinion in said driving connections.

11. In a trolley retr1ever,'a casing, a ring gear on the inside thereof, a shaft, a drum loosely mounted on the shaft, an arm fixed on said shaft, apinion thereon meshing with said gear,.a pinion on said drum, and a gear rigid with the pinion on said arm meshing with the pinion on the drum, whereby the drum and shaft move relatively to each other.

12. In a trolley retriever, a casing, a shaft therein, a drum loosely mounted .on the shaft, driving connections from the shaft to the drum, a driver loosely mounted on the shaft, a power springengaged with said casing and said driver, and power connections between the driver and the shaft.

13. In a trolley retriever, a casing, a shaft therein, a drum and a driver freely mounted on said shaft driving connections between said driver and said shaft, and means to operatively connect said drum and driver, in combmation with driving connections from said shaft to said drum constructed to speed rotated thereby, in combination with a driver loosely mounted on said shaft and adapted'to be operatively engaged by said drum, and a power spring connected with said driver.

15. In a trolley retriever, a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted therein, a driver free on said shaft, a power' spring operatively connected to said driver, an independently rotatable drum, and a plurality of pa'wls mounted thereon and adapted to engage with said driver. I

16. In a trolley retriever, a winding drum, a power spring, and two different lines of power connections having different ratios between said spring and drum.

, 17. In a trolley retriever, a winding drum,

a shaft, a power spring, and-two different to which a trolley is adapted to be connected,

a power spring, a driver connected with said spring, means intermediate of said driver and drum to make working connections therebetween at difierent power transmitting ratios, a ring movable relative to and surrounding said driver and arranged to be,

engaged by an element of said connecting means, and apawl to engage said ring.

19. In a trolley retriever, a shaft, a winding drum mounted loosely thereon and differential gear connections between the shaft and drum for rotating the latter, in combination with a power spring, a driver loosely mounted on said shaft and connected with said spring connections between said driver and shaft, and means to establish operating connections through said .driver from the spring to said drum to lock the latter against rotation with the'spring in wound-up condition.

20. In a trolley retriever, a winding drum, a shaft therefor, a power spring independent of said shaft, a driver connected with said spring, a line of low tension operating connections from the driver through said shaft to the drum, and a line of high tension connections tothe drum through said driver.

21. In trolley retrievers, a single actuating spring, a trolley cord winding drum, a driver operatively connected with said spring and two separate lines of operating connections from the driver to the drum, one

comprising means to operatively lock the drum to said driver.

22. Atrolley retriever comprising a wind lng drum, a single spring, a line of power connections connected with said spring and permitting said drum to pay out rope under the tension of the trolley springs, the said connections including a driver, and a separate line of power connections adapted to be connected with said spring through said driver for retrieving the trolley.

23. In trolley retrievers, a trolley, a trolley cord, a winding drum for said cord and a single actuating power spring, in com'bi ation with separate high; and low tension connections between said drum and said spring and means to automatically throw either the high or the low tension connections out of action when the other is thrown in.

24. In trolley retrievers, a winding drum, a single actuating spring therefor, separate lines of operating mechanism between said spring and drum, and means to automatically change from one to the other.

25. A trolley and trolley cord. a retriever I comprising a shaft, a winding drum freely mounted thereon and a single actuating springiin combination with means to wind up said spring and to connect it to said drum in low tension operating relationship, and means to change from low to high tension relationship between said drum and spring through said winding up means when the trollev leaves the wire and to reversely rotate said drum to draw in the trolley cord.

26. A trolle a trolley cord and a spring adapted to hold the trolley in working position. in combination with a trolley retriever ha ing a power spring. a winding drum to which said cord is connected adapted to be rotated in opposite directions and having two lines of operating connections with said power s ring. and means ada ted to throw in one line of connections and to throw out the other line'cf connections. v

27. A trolley and a trolleycord, in combination with a winding drum. a single powerspring. hi h tension and low tension winding driving means for the drum. means for throwing said hi h tensionmeans into action with said winding drum. and means to release said low tension driving means.

28. A trolley and a trolley cord connected to said trolley. in combination with a trolley' a winding drum o which said cord is consafety device hailizpg a single power spring, tension and high tension nected having lo lines of operating connections with saidpower spring. means adapted to automatically change the line of low tension connections to high tension connections when the trolley leaves said wire, and means adapted to automatically change the line of high ten sion connections to low tension connections when the power spring is manually wound to a limit.

29. The combination of a trolley having flexible controlling means with a trolley safety device comprising a winding drum, and locking means for said winding drum adapted to be held out of action when said flexible means is connected to said winding drum and adapted to automatically lock said drum from turning in the unwinding direction when said flexible means is disconnected.

spring due to the winding thereof and permitting automatic change from high power to low pbwer connection to the drum when said normal winding is completed.

- 32. In a trolley safety device, a winding drum. apower spring therefor, and means to adjustably limit the expansion of said spring.

"33. In a trolley safety device, a winding drum having a convolute power spring, and an adjustable stop for limiting the expansion of said spring.

34. In a trolley safety device, a winding drum, a power spring operatively connected with said drum, and an a justable stop for limiting the expansion 0 said spring, the said stop being adjustable in directions radial to the axis of said drum. 7

35. In a trolley'safety device, the combination of a shaft, a drum loosely mounted thereon, a driver connected to said shaft, a power spring for rotating said driver, differential gear connections between said shaft and drum, and means for locking said drum against rotation arranged between said drum and driver.

36. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is connected, a driver, connections between the driver and drum, a power spring connected with the driver, and means including a rotatable ring for stopping the rotation of the, drum in the rope unwinding direction to limit the winding of the spring.

37. In a trolley retriever, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is connected, a driver, connections between the mass-ya driver and drum, a power spring connected with the driver, and means including a rotatable ring for stopping the rotation of the drum in the rope unwinding direction to limit the winding of the spring, the said means being controlled by the contraction of the spring due to the winding thereof.

38. In a trolley safety. device, the combination of a windingdrum to which a trolley rope is connected, a power spring, and two lines of connections between said drum and spring adapted to be alternately connected in, one of said lines of connections including a pawl and ratchet mechanism, and

means for releasing .the pawl from the is thrown in, and means for placing said spring under tension.

40. In a trolley safety device, the combination of a winding drum, a power spring, connections between the power spring and the said drum, said power spring operating to wind a trolley rope on the drum in the retrieving operation and adapted to be re wound by the unwinding of the rope from the drum, means for limiting the winding up of the spring after the trolley has been retrieved, and separate connections between the spring and drum for operating the latter to pay out the rope under the influence of the trolley pole springs, the first mentioned connections being automatically thrown out after the said power spring is rewound and permitting said drumto be operated by said spring through said separate connections.

41. In a trollev safety device, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is connected, a power spring, two lines the combination of a winding drum to which 1 a trolley rope is connected a power spring, a line of operating connections between said drum. and spring including a controlling device, a separate line of operating connections between said drum and spring arranged to be connected in when the first mentioned line of operating connections is thrown out, and means arranged to be engaged by said controlling device for limiting the winding up of said spring when said separate line of operating connections is thrown in.

43. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a winding drum towhich a trolley rope is connected, a power spring, a line of operating connections between said drum and spring including a controlling device, a separate line of operating connections between said drum and s ring arranged to be connected in when the first mentioned line of operating connections is thrown out, and means arranged to be engaged by said controlling device for limiting the winding up of said spring when said separate line of operating connections is thrown in, the said limiting means being controlled by the contraction of said spring due to the wind ing thereof.

44. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a winding drum'to which a trolley rope is connected, a power spring, a

line of operating connections between said drum and spring including a controlling device, a separate line of operating connections between said drum and spring arranged to be connected in when the first mentioned line of operating connections is thrown out, and means arranged to beengaged by said controlling device for limiting the-windingup of said spring when said separate line of operating connections is thrown in, the said limiting means including a pawl normally engaging said spring and controlled by its contraction due to the winding thereof. v

45. In apparatus of the classdescribed, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is connected, a power spring, a line of operating connections between said drum and spring including a controlling device, a' separate line ,of operating connections between said drum and spring arranged to be connected in when the first mentioned line of operating connections is thrown out, means arranged to be engagedby said controlling device for limiting the winding up of said spring when said separate line of operating connections is thrown in, and means engaging said limiting means for releasing the controlling device therefrom after the winding operation is completed.

46. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is connected, a power spring,a line of operating connections between said drum and spring including a controlling device, a separate line of operating connections between said drum and spring arranged to be connected in when the first mentioned line or operating connections is thrown out, means arranged to, be engaged by said controlling device for limiting the winding up of said spring when. said separate line of operating connections is thrown in, and a pawl engaging said limiting means for releasing the controlling device therefrom after the winding operation is completed.

47. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is-connected, a power spring, a line of connections between said spring and drum, a separate line of connections between j'said spring and drum, and means cooperating with oneelzement of the first named line of connections for limiting the winding up of said spring beyond a predetermined point when said separate line' of connections is thrown 48." In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is connected, a power spring, a line of connections between said spring and drum andincluding a member movable into an inoperative position when said line of connections is thrown out, a separate line of connections between said drum and spring arranged to be connected in when the first mentioned line of connections is thrown out, and means engageable by' said movable member when in inoperative position for limit one of said lines of connections is thrown in,

but permitting the spring to be wound bespring, a driv yond the predetermined amount when the other line of connections is thrown in.

50. In apparatns of the class described, the combination of a"winding drum, a power operatively connected with said spring, and direct and indirect connections between said drum and driver, arranged to be alternately connected in, the said indirect connections comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism, a spring for operate ingsaidpawl to release it from the ratchet, a member for placing said spring under tension and freeing it from tension, and means for controlling saidmember.

51. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a winding drum, a power spring, a driver operatively connected with said s ring, and direct and indirect connections between said drum and driver, arranged to e alternately connected in, the said indir t connections comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism, a spring for operating said pawl to release it from the ratchet, a member for placing said spring under tension and freeing it from tension, and means carried by the driver for controlling said member.

52. In a trolley safety device, the combina tion with a cord connected with a trolley pole, of a drum on which the cord is wound,

means for rotating the drum, and means operating by the disconnection of the cord from the drum to prevent the rotation thereof by the drum controlling means.

53. The combination with a winding drum arranged to have a trolley rope detachably connected thereto, of a spring connected to said drum for turning said drum to maintain the trolley rope taut, and means for locking said drum from turning under the influence of said spring, said means being engageable by the trolley rope and operated by the connection to and disconnection from the drum of said rope.

54:. The combination with a winding drum arranged to have a trolley rope detachably connected thereto, of a spring connected to said drum for turning said drum to maintain the trolley rope taut, a pawl and ratchet for preventing the turning of said drum, said pawl'having a rope engaging arm arranged to be engaged by the trolley rope to move said pawl out of engagement with said ratchet.

55. The combination with a winding drum, of a spring connected to said drum for turning said drum to maintain the trolley rope taut, a pawl and ratchet for preventing the turning of said drum under the influence'of said spring, said drum having a hole wider at one portion than another so that a knot in the end of the trolley rope may be passed through the wide portion but cannot pass through the narrow portion, the tail of said pawl extending over said hole and arranged to be engaged by the knot in the trolley rope when the same is inserted within the said hole.

56. The combination of a drum on which a trolley rope isadapted to be wound, a driver, a spring for rotating said driver, two lines of power connections arranged to be alternately connected in between said driver and drum, one of said lines including a centrifugal pawl and the other of said lines including a pawl, resilient means for actuating the last mentioned pawl, and means for controlling the resilient means.

57. The combination of a drum on which a trolley rope is adapted to be wound, a driver, a spring for rotating said driver, two lines of power connections arranged to be alternately connected in for transmitting power between said driver and drum, one of said lines including a centrifugal pawl and remove the other of said lines including a spring controlled pawl, and means for controlling the operation of one of said pawls, whereby said lines of power connections may be anged from one to the other.

. The combination of a drum on which a trolley rope is adapted to be wound, a

driver, a. spring for rotating said driver, two lines of power connections arranged to be alternately connected in for transmitting pow'er between said driver and drum, one

of said lines including a centrifugal pawi and the other of said lines including a .spring controlled pawl, and means for controlling the operation of said spring con-i trolled pawl, whereby said lines of power connections may be changed from one to the other.

59. In a retriever, a casing, a winding drum for a rope, a shaft for said drum mounted in the casing, a spring, and two difierent lines of driving connections be tween sa d spring and said drum, one of said lines comprising differential gears having operative engagement with said casing.

60.'1In a trolley retriever, a spring; a drum '0 which a trolley rope is adapted to be won d, a driver connected to and operated by said spring, and two separate lines of. driving connections between said driver and said drum, one of said lines of driving connections including a shaft on which said drum is loosely mounted.

61. The combination of a'power spring, a drum on which a trolley is adapted to be wound, two lines of power connections arranged to be alternately connected in between said spring and drum to rotate the latter, and means for limiting the winding of the spring, the said means being controlled by the contraction of the spring due to the winding thereof.

62. The combination of a power spring,a

c'irum on which a trolley rope is adapted to be wound, two lines of power connections "arranged to be alternately connected in be tween said spring and drum to rotate the latter, and means for limiting the winding of the spring, the said means including a device arranged'td engage with a coil of said spring and move inwardly as said spring contracts.

63. In a trolley retriever, the combination with a casing and a-drum mounted to rotate therein, of a driver, a power spring connected at its opposite ends to said casing and said driver and arranged to rotate the latter in one direction, connections between said driver and drum for operating the latter,

ed to be wound, a power spring, a line of driving connections between said spring and drum for keeping the rope taut, a separate line of driving connections between said spring and drum, operating when the other line of driving connections is thrown out, for retrieving the trolley, and means for limiting the rotation of the drum in the rope unwinding direction when one of said lines of connections is thrown in, and de vices for releasing said limiting means.

65. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of two relatively movable members, one of which comprises a winding drum adapted to have one end of a rope detachably connected to it, and a pair of cooperating devices for locking the said members together, one of said devices being carried by the drum and the other of said devices being carried by the other member, the act of attaching to and detaching from the drum of the rope end operating to control said locking devices.

66. In apparatus of the class described, the combinationgf a winding drum adapted to have one end of a rope connected to it, a power spring, a rotatable member connected to and operated by said spring, differential gearing between said member and drum, and means interposed between said drum and member, and controlled by the attachment to and detachment from said drum of the rope end, for locking the drum against rotation.

67; In a trolley retriever, the combination with a trolley rope adapted to be connected at one end to a trolley, of a member adapted to rotate in opposite directions, means for rotating said member in one direction, a winding drum to which the other end of said rope is connected, a line of connections between said member and said drum for retrieving the trolley, the said line of connections being actuated by the sudden up-pull on the rope, a separate line of connections between said member and said drum for keeping said rope taut and constructed and arranged to be disconnected when the retrieving line of connections is thrown in, and means for throwing in the last mentioned line of connections after the retrieving operation.

68. In apparatus of the character .described, the combination of two rotatable members, a spring for operating one of said mg in said line of connections, said means [Win 7 power from either of said members to the other, means for throwing out one of said lines of connections, means for throwing in said line of connections, and means for limiting the winding of the spring, said means for throwing in the line of connections being operated by first unwinding the rope from the drum to wind the spring until said limiting means stops the unwinding of said drum and then surrendering said drum to the action of said spring.

70. In a trolley safety device, the combination of a winding drum to which a trolley rope is connected, a power spring, two lines of connections between said drum and said spring, one of said lines of connections including a pawl and a ratchet through which said line of connections is completed, and a spring for releasing the pawl from said ratchet when the other line of connections is thrown in.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

MELVIN ALBERT YEAKLEY.

Witnesses:

E. M. FISHER, F C. MUSSUN. 

